Working from home, increased annual leave and income protection insurance are among the top perks Australians would like to see in a post-COVID workplace.
The discovery comes from a recent Finder survey querying approximately 1000 Australian workers.
Flexible work arrangements took out top spot
Working remotely won out as 43 per cent of respondents chose the option to continue working in the comfort of their own home as their number one preference.
Though this seems trivial, Taylor Blackburn, Finder insurance specialist, explains that employers are looking for alternative ways to justify salary cuts made during the recession.
“For companies who are unable to afford salary increases this year, additional perks like flexible working arrangements or increased annual leave can be suitable instead,” Blackburn said.
In addition, 41 per cent of survey respondents said that they would appreciate more annual leave, no doubt to catch up on lost travel time.
Aussies desire income security
Income protection insurance came in at four (26 per cent of respondents), marginally behind employer contributions to health insurance.
It’s no surprise that income protection insurance ranked so highly on employee’s wish lists given the recent cutback of JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments.
Finder estimates that Australians will have around $485 million less to spend per fortnight due to the reduction in government handouts, leaving many workers quietly praying for this safety net.
“With JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments being cut from this week, many people are nervous about how they’d manage to stay afloat financially if they lost work,” Blackburn said.
“Income protection insurance pays a monthly benefit if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. It’s basically a stand-in for your regular earnings, so you don’t end up falling behind on bills or repayments.”
Added work perks
Among the other notable perks identified in the survey included professional development training, free lunches and free gym memberships.
While the transition to working online was initially scary for some, many are hoping that their employers will allow them to continue doing so or at least provide a little sweetener to ease their return to the workplace.
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